Chapter 59: Investment Rewards — Undead God Body (Divine-rank Talent) — [CASTLE BONUS]
Evelyne had already moved close enough that only a small distance remained between them. When Cain suddenly became distracted, she stopped and watched the subtle change in his expression.
She was already familiar with that look as something from the System must have appeared in front of him.
Cain’s attention shifted completely toward the translucent notifications only he could see.
[Ding! You have invested a Yellow Scroll in Evelyne.]
[Ding! Evelyne’s Vital Restoration (C-rank Talent) has evolved into Saintly Restoration (SS-rank Talent).]
[Ding! Evelyne has obtained highly compatible healing abilities through the evolution of Saintly Restoration.]
[Ding! Investment Return obtained: Yellow Scroll.]
Cain’s eyes brightened.
Another Yellow Scroll had appeared inside his Inventory.
He had hoped for exactly this.
When he had previously given Elara a Yellow Scroll, the System returned another one to him. Apparently, investing an item of this level into an eligible target could return the same resource as long as the investment was valuable enough.
The corners of his lips slowly rose.
’Not bad.’
Before Cain could become too excited, another notification appeared.
[Ding! Additional Investment Reward obtained.]
[Mana +25.]
[Magic +25.]
An enormous amount of energy immediately entered his body.
Unlike Strength or Physique, the change did not manifest through tightening muscles or denser bones. Instead, the Mana existing throughout his body expanded as if an additional reservoir had suddenly been connected to it.
The increase was substantial enough that Cain noticed it immediately.
His control became sharper as his Magic rose alongside his Mana, allowing the supernatural energy flowing through him to respond more naturally to his will.
Cain quietly enjoyed the sensation until the change settled.
Then he opened his status.
[Cain]
[Level: 25]
[Race: Human]
[Talents: Black Menagerie (Primordial-rank), Undying War Body (SSS-rank), Faultline Vision (SS-rank), Piercing Momentum (S-rank), Vital Restoration (C-rank)]
[Beast: Primordial Chaos Dragon]
[Element: Ruin]
[Skills: Ruin Dragon Force, Greater Restoration]
[System Points: 60,700]
[Stats]: Strength: 143 (+45) / Agility: 159 (+50) / Physique: 87 (+81) / Sense: 76 (+5) / Mana: 260 / Magic: 160
Cain stared at the last two numbers with obvious satisfaction.
25 points might not sound overwhelming compared to some of the enormous increases he had received recently, but Mana and Magic were considerably more difficult to increase than his physical attributes.
The increase could not have arrived at a better time.
Ruin Dragon Force became increasingly Mana-hungry whenever Cain raised its output, especially once he began pushing his body far beyond its normal physical limits.
Greater Restoration also relied on Mana.
Even the Undying War Body could accelerate its natural regeneration by consuming additional energy.
Against the 2nd Echelon zombie, 25 extra Mana and Magic could make a significant difference during a prolonged fight.
Cain was still examining his status when another series of notifications appeared.
[Ding! Evelyne’s Favorability toward you has increased significantly.]
[Ding! Evelyne is extremely happy and satisfied with the result of your investment.]
[Ding! The exceptional value and emotional significance of this investment have greatly increased its evaluation.]
[Ding! Exceptional Investment Evaluation achieved.]
[Ding! One Reward Ascension Authority has been obtained.]
Cain’s smile widened.
He immediately ordered the system as there was only one reward worth choosing.
"Upgrade the Yellow Scroll."
[Ding! Yellow Scroll has been selected.]
[Ding! Reward Ascension Authority activated.]
The Scroll resting inside his Inventory immediately began changing.
Its golden glow intensified before gradually darkening into a much deeper color.
Within seconds, the transformation finished.
[Ding! Yellow Scroll has evolved into an Orange Scroll.]
Cain nearly laughed.
Another Orange Scroll.
The last time he opened one, he had obtained the Undying War Body.
That single Talent had completely changed how recklessly Cain could use Ruin Dragon Force. Damage that would have accumulated across his muscles and organs was continuously repaired, allowing his body to endure an amount of strain that should have eventually crippled an ordinary Awakener.
And now another Orange Scroll had fallen into his hands.
Evelyne was still standing in front of him.
She had patiently waited at first, but Cain had remained distracted long enough for her expression to gradually become annoyed.
"Cain."
"Hmm?"
He answered without thinking.
Evelyne stared at him.
"Are you done?"
Cain finally focused on her again.
"With what?"
Her eyebrow twitched.
"You suddenly started staring into space."
"Oh."
Cain remembered that Evelyne had been about to say something before the System interrupted him.
"What were you going to say?"
Evelyne fell silent, the faint redness that had previously appeared on her cheeks returned.
"Nothing."
Cain raised an eyebrow.
"You walked closer just to say nothing?"
"I changed my mind."
"That seems to happen often today."
Evelyne glared at him.
"Do you want me to take back my thank you?"
"Nope."
Cain smiled before opening his inventory.
Then an Orange Scroll appeared in his hand.
The faint irritation on Evelyne’s face immediately disappeared.
Her attention was drawn toward the parchment.
"Orange?"
"Yeah."
She had only just used a Yellow Scroll herself, so recognizing that the item in Cain’s hand belonged to an even higher rank was easy.
"Where did you get that?"
"From the System." Cain replied.
Evelyne waited, but Cain said nothing else.
"That’s all?"
"What else do you want me to say?"
"How did the System suddenly give you an Orange Scroll?"
Cain looked thoughtful for a moment, then he shrugged. "Maybe it likes me."
Evelyne stared at him.
"..."
Cain maintained a completely serious expression.
"You’re unbelievable."
"I get that a lot."
He lowered his gaze toward the Scroll again.
Naturally, Cain had no intention of explaining the Investment Harem System and intended to keep it that way.
He gripped the Orange Scroll with both hands.
The 2nd Echelon zombie immediately entered his thoughts.
There was no reason to save something capable of increasing his strength when the most dangerous fight he had encountered so far was waiting only a few kilometers away.
Cain opened the Scroll.
Orange light exploded through the classroom.
Evelyne instinctively stepped backward.
The parchment disappeared from Cain’s hands almost instantly as countless particles of light rushed into his body.
Cain expected the familiar sensation of receiving a new Talent.
Instead, the energy changed direction the moment it entered him.
Almost all of it surged toward something that already existed deep within his body.
Cain recognized the feeling immediately.
A notification appeared.
[Ding! A highly compatible existing Talent has been detected.]
[Ding! Orange Scroll energy is resonating with the Undying War Body.]
[Ding! Talent evolution has begun.]
Cain’s eyes widened, his gaze briefly moved toward Evelyne as the same thing had happened to her only moments earlier.
The Scroll had not granted Saintly Restoration from nothing.
It had evolved the Vital Restoration Talent.
And now...
Thump!
Cain’s heartbeat suddenly grew heavier.
A tremendous force erupted from somewhere deep inside his body.
His expression changed.
The transformation began almost immediately.
The first thing Cain noticed was his skeleton.
A deep pressure spread through every bone in his body as their internal structure changed. They became denser without gaining unnecessary weight, reinforcing themselves to withstand forces that would have shattered his previous body.
Then his muscles followed.
Every fiber tightened beneath his skin.
Cain could feel countless microscopic changes occurring throughout them as the Orange energy repeatedly reconstructed his physical foundation.
His organs strengthened alongside the rest of his body.
His blood vessels became tougher.
His heart pumped with greater force without losing stability, sending blood through his transformed body with frightening efficiency.
Evelyne stared at him.
Her expression gradually changed.
Saintly Restoration allowed her to perceive far more about living beings than before, and what she sensed from Cain was unlike anything she had experienced.
His body had already been strange.
Earlier, despite knowing that Cain had fought multiple powerful creatures throughout the day, she had been unable to find even minor lingering damage within him.
Now that already abnormal body was undergoing another transformation.
Cain’s vitality rose continuously.
The sensation became so intense that Evelyne instinctively retreated another step.
"Cain...?"
He barely heard her.
The most significant change had only just begun.
Undying War Body’s regenerative power suddenly intensified.
Cain felt the difference immediately.
Before, his body repaired injuries continuously and could accelerate that process by drawing upon Mana or Life energy.
Now the response became almost instantaneous.
The slightest damage caused by the transformation disappeared before Cain even knew it.
Mana naturally flowed toward the affected area without requiring conscious control as if his body knew where the damage existed and it knew how much energy was necessary.
Cain did nothing at all and it was his talent that handled everything.
Crack!
A fracture appeared across one of the floor tiles beneath his feet.
Cain looked downward.
He had not deliberately exerted any force. His body simply needed time to adjust to the rapidly increasing physical power.
The Orange energy continued moving through him.
Then his Physical stats surged.
The durability of his body increased so sharply that Cain felt as though every part of him had been reinforced several times over.
Strength came next.
His fingers instinctively curled.
Cain immediately stopped before closing his fist completely.
Even that small movement felt different.
There was far more force waiting beneath his skin than before.
Finally, Agility increased.
Unlike the raw heaviness that could accompany greater physical strength, Cain felt lighter.
His transformed muscles responded more quickly, and his entire body seemed capable of translating thought into movement with less delay.
The pressure inside the classroom reached its peak.
Then it suddenly vanished as the orange light dispersed into the air.
Cain slowly opened his eyes.
A System panel floated before him.
[Undying War Body has successfully evolved.]
[Undying God Body - Divine-rank Talent]